2018-07-11 23:53:422018-07-11 23:53:42https://quickbooks.intuit.com/au/resources/how-to-run-your-business/5-social-media-tips-for-small-businesses/How To Run Your BusinessEnglishYou don’t have to be a digital-based business in order to thrive online. Every small business can leverage the power and impact of social...https://quickbooks.intuit.com/au/resources/au_qrc/uploads/2018/07/iStock-532344192.jpghttps://quickbooks.intuit.com/au/resources/how-to-run-your-business/5-social-media-tips-for-small-businesses/5 Social Media Tips For Small Businesses | QuickBooks Australia

5 social media tips for small businesses

You don’t have to be a digital business in order to thrive online. Every small business can leverage the power and impact of social media and use it to grow a truly loyal and far-reaching audience – both online and in real life. Here are five tips to help you use social media to grow your small business.

1 Create a plan

A scattergun approach doesn’t work when it comes to creating a long-lasting digital presence. You need to have purpose and be intentional about your approach when it comes to social media. Do your research and find out more about your target market. Who are they? Where are they? And more importantly, where do they hang out online? While it can be good to have a presence across almost every social platform, you’ll eventually just want to focus on 2-3, that are popular with your audience and offer the most value to your business.

2 Showcase your personality

Social media is a crowded space and no doubt you already have competitors in your market who are taking up space that you want to occupy. In order to stand out from the crowd and appeal to your demographic, you need to make sure your brand has personality. Incorporate your brand identity in everything you do, from your images and videos to your every single piece of copy. Your identity should be consistent across your website and your social media platforms.

3 Get social media savvy

There’s a lot of shortcuts when it comes to social media management these days. Not everything has to be done manually and most platforms allow you to schedule ahead of time – very handy for busy business owners. Make the most of the social media scheduling tools that are available in order to save time and also improve your reach. Many also offer automation features which allow you to know when to publish your content, and they can automatically repost your best performing content for you.

4 Keep up with the trends

Keeping a finger on the pulse is smart when it comes to social media management. While you need to run your own race and not be constantly following everyone else, there are certain trends that you will want to be aware of. Keep abreast of digital trends and algorithm changes that may affect your scheduling or the type of content you are publishing. Social media platforms are notorious for changing things up and keeping everyone on their toes. Subscribe to Google alerts or SEO newsletters that can keep you up-to-date on digital trends.

5 Make friends

Social media is all about making friends and it’s no different with a business account. You want to grow your social media following and the best way to do that is to be friendly and present. Like other people’s content, reply to comments and interact with your followers. Engage with influencers, create giveaways and encourage genuine interactions online. If you don’t have to time, you may need to eventually hire a social media manager part time or a virtual assistant.

Information may be abridged and therefore incomplete. This document/information does not constitute, and should not be considered a substitute for, legal or financial advice. Each financial situation is different, the advice provided is intended to be general. Please contact your financial or legal advisors for information specific to your situation.